Tag: 3BL

We’re incredibly proud of the representation of our brand leaders at the Women’s Foodservice Forum (WFF) Leadership Development Workshops in Orange County and Dallas last month. During the workshops, Maggie Reyna, senior director of marketing for Taco Bell International, and Lindsay Morgan, chief marketing officer for Pizza Hut U.S., joined panels to share their insights on navigating adversity and taking control of your career development.

Together, we’re forging a brighter future for women in the foodservice industry.

The Biomimicry Institute has awarded the 2023 Ray of Hope Prize® to Sparxell, a UK-based startup creating the next generation of colors and effects with vibrant, metal-like pigments, all from plant-based cellulose. By utilizing cellulose in pigment creation, Sparxell is showing how nature can color our world without the harmful environmental and societal effects of mined and synthetic minerals. As the 2023 Ray of Hope Prize recipient, Sparxell will receive $100,000 in recognition of their groundbreaking, nature-inspired work.

Conventional substances used to make our cosmetics, fabrics, paints, and packaging bright and colorful often include metal or oil-derived ingredients. For example, the most common pigment, titanium dioxide, causes a white coloration and is used in products from toothpaste to paper. Titanium dioxide has recently been recognized as a carcinogen and banned from food and pharmaceutical products in the EU. Furthermore, many pigments are mined in areas with high incident rates of human rights abuses, and where water is scarce. There are some bio-derived alternatives, but none have been able to compete at cost… until Sparxell.

Sparxell has developed the first environmentally sustainable, non-toxic pigments, glitters, sequins and films. Inspired by structural color found in nature, such as that of a butterfly wing or peacock feather, their patented manufacturing technique transforms cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) into uniformly reflective, highly dispersible particles with state-of-the-art performance. The pigments are a fully biodegradable, easier to source alternative with an unlimited range of vibrant colors. Because they can tune the structural color pigments to reflect specific bands of light, their pigments even enable new types of color. All this is possible while adhering to the recent EU regulations on microplastics like glitter.

“We are proud to support Sparxell as the 2023 recipient of the Ray of Hope Prize for their work to eliminate toxic chemicals from colorants,” said Dr. Sarah McInerney, Ray of Hope Program Manager at the Biomimicry Institute. “The incredible Sparxell team has developed a truly unique performance pigment from plant-based cellulose and in the process has set a new eco standard for a diversity of industries. As a platform technology, the potential environmental and social impact of this solution is huge. We couldn’t be more excited to support them on their journey.”

That journey began at the University of Cambridge’s Bio Inspired Photonics Lab (UK), where Sparxell’s founders replicated the exact nanostructure that gives the fruit of Pollia condensata (marble berry) its vibrant blue color using cellulose and nothing else. Now, their growing team is poised to transform industries as diverse as cosmetics, paints, fabrics, automobile coatings, and packaging, with sustainable vibrant colorants representing a $65B market overall.

This year’s runner up recognition goes to Canada-based Anodyne Chemistries, which uses nature’s catalysts, enzymes, to solve the chemical industry’s reliance on fossil fuels, replacing high temperature petrochemistry with a sustainable bioelectric process. Currently, the chemical industry is responsible for about 5% of global CO2 emissions. Transforming this sector is key to moving away from a fossil-fuel-based economy and to achieving net-zero targets. Anodyne Chemistries has developed a method of bioelectrical manufacturing that can compete against petrochemical economics, overcome the limitations of biological fermentation, and outperform electrochemistry, which are the main industrial processes and emergent technologies for chemical production, respectively. This technology could decarbonize the chemical industry while applying principles of Green Chemistry to create a new generation of climate positive chemicals.

“I’m thrilled by the quality of all of the finalists in the Ray of Hope Prize this year, in particular Sparxell and Anodyne Chemistries,” said John Lanier, Executive Director of the Ray C. Anderson Foundation and selection committee member. “These businesses are in completely different sectors, but each has a solid business plan, a compelling biomimicry story, and most importantly, an authentic social and environmental ethos. Anodyne’s enzymes offer an exciting pathway to low carbon chemicals, while Sparxell has unlocked cellulose as a source for pigments of nearly any color. With nature as their teachers, they are primed to positively disrupt their industries.”

Other Ray of Hope Prize finalists include ACatechol, Inc. (United States), BloomX (Israel), Cellugy (Denmark), CompPair Technologies (Switzerland), (United States), Ivu Biologics Inc (United States), Lux Bio (formerly Nyoka) (Canada), and Noovi (Formally Vitiport) (Slovakia).

The Ray of Hope Prize, created in honor of the late sustainable business pioneer Ray C. Anderson, is awarded each year to the world’s top nature-inspired startup after 10 finalist teams conclude a 10-week accelerator program. This year, Sparxell, Anodyne Chemistries, and the eight other participating companies were selected from a pool of 215 applications from 54 different countries. The finalists and recipients were chosen through a series of expert judging panels, which included investors and trusted experts in the field of biomimicry, industry, and entrepreneurship, including representatives from NASA, Overview Earth, and L’Oréal. All participants in the program learned about sustainable business practices, met with industry and startup mentors, refined their scientific communication skills, and were invited to an immersive retreat in the Yosemite National Park to reconnect with the natural world and form bonds with their fellow bio-inspired innovators.

The 2023 Ray of Hope Prize was made possible by The Biomimicry Institute’s generous partners, the Ray C. Anderson Foundation, with support from the Bentley Environmental Foundation, and L’Oréal. For more information about the Ray of Hope Prize or how to support this initiative, visit biomimicry.org/rayofhopeprize or email rayofhopeprize@biomimicry.org.

About the Biomimicry Institute

The Biomimicry Institute is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization founded in 2006 that empowers people to seek nature-inspired solutions for a healthy planet. To advance the solution process, the Institute offers AskNature.org, a free online tool that contains strategies found in nature and examples of ways they are used in design. It also offers biomimicry curriculum, hosts a Youth Design Challenge to support project-based education; a Biomimicry Launchpad to help scientists, inventors, and innovators bring their nature-inspired ideas into reality; and the Ray of Hope Prize® which identifies the top nature-inspired startups in the world and fosters their growth by providing a 10-week program focused on sustainable business training, communications support, and opportunities for non-dilutive funding. The Institute’s collaborative initiative, Design for Transformation, pilots technologies that convert discarded clothes and textiles into biocompatible raw materials. For more information, visit biomimicry.org.

Media Contact

Marc Cappelletti, Director of Marketing and Outreach 
marc.cappelletti@biomimicry.org 
215-435-6185

KeyBank’s Key4Women Syracuse Chapter held its annual awards breakfast on Thursday October 19th at Bellevue Country Club. Susan Crossett, President and CEO of CPS Recruitment, a certified Women Owned Business, was the keynote speaker. She shared stories from her career journey as an Entrepreneur, Board Director, Corporate Executive, Advocate, Change Management Strategist and High-Performance Motivator.

Crossett was also honored by Key as its 2023 Key4Women Achieve Award Winner. It honors and recognizes the accomplishments of women business leaders and their contributions to the Central New York Community. The award is open to clients of KeyBank and is given annually to a female leader in the region who has achieved a high level of success in her profession, is a community leader, and is a supporter of other women in Central New York. In addition to the award, KeyBank also made a $2,500 donation in Crossett’s honor to CenterState CEO’s Race for Equity program.

Key4Women is an avenue of growth and advice for many women business owners and leaders. As a relationship-based bank, Key partners in helping our clients use every tool possible, providing them with access to capital while knowing exactly what best fits their business and financial goals. Learn more and sign up by going to key.com/women.

Learn more about KeyBank’s commitment to helping clients and communities thriveLearn more about how KeyBank can help small businesses

SANTA CLARA, Calif., November 15, 2023 /3BL/ – Today, AMD (NASDAQ: AMD) showcased its continued leadership in high performance computing (HPC) at Supercomputing 23. AMD EPYC™ processors and AMD Instinct™ accelerators continue to be the solutions of choice for many of the most innovative, energy efficient and fastest supercomputers in the world. AMD now powers 140 supercomputers on the latest Top500 list representing a 39% year-over-year increase. Additionally, AMD powers eight of the top ten most energy efficient supercomputers in the world based on the latest Green500 list.

“AMD technology continues to be at the forefront of solving the world’s most important challenges. Our partnerships with national labs and research facilities around the world accelerate scientific discoveries, while driving new levels of understanding for critical items like health, energy, physics and more,” said Forrest Norrod, executive vice president and general manager, Data Center Solutions Group, AMD. “Working together with the industry, we are helping to establish and drive new paradigms of performance and energy efficiency, while empowering scientists and researchers of the world to advance the groundbreaking work that seeks to answer humanity’s toughest questions.”

The Exascale Era is AMD 
The Frontier supercomputer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, powered by AMD EPYC processors and Instinct accelerators, remains the fastest computer in the world – for the fourth list in a row. Providing an impressive blend of the best performance and leadership energy efficiency, Frontier continues to drive impactful science through its first full year of user operations. The latest scientific projects on Frontier include new research on power grid optimization, new designs on airplane engines for better efficiency and capabilities as well as two out of six finalists for the Gordon Bell award.

The second exascale class supercomputer to be powered by AMD, El Capitan, has started its installation process at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The system will be powered by the forthcoming AMD Instinct MI300A APU, which is the first data center APU to combine CPU and GPU cores and high-bandwidth memory, all in a single package. This innovative design is anticipated to provide dramatic increases in both energy efficiency and performance. When it comes online, El Capitan is expected to exceed two exaflops of double precision performance, becoming the second AMD powered supercomputer to surpass the exaflop barrier. You can see more about El Capitan at this video from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

“We are making excellent progress on the installation of El Capitan, which will clearly be one of the world’s best computing systems,” said Bronis R. de Supinski, the Chief Technology Officer for Livermore Computing at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. “This enormous undertaking of multiple partners is creating a system that will enable our scientists to achieve results which they previously could only dream about. El Capitan will offer incredible programmability, performance and energy efficiency through its use of the AMD Instinct MI300A APUs virtually eliminating the challenges of repeatedly moving data between CPUs and GPUs, thus helping us achieve our mission.”

Enabling More Energy Efficient Computing 
In HPC, energy efficiency is a top priority for the industry to meet sustainability commitments and deliver performance to enable the next generation of supercomputers. AMD is setting a new pace of innovation to accelerate energy efficiency through its 30×25 goal, which aims to deliver a 30x energy efficiency improvement in processors and accelerators for AI-training and HPC by 2025i, from a 2020 baseline, through a holistic approach to chip design and system-level improvementsii.

Showcasing the impact of the energy efficiency capabilities of AMD EPYC processors and AMD Instinct accelerators, AMD powers eight of the top 10 systems on the latest Green500 list, including the two most powerful supercomputers on the top ten; Frontier and the Adastra supercomputer.

Convergence of AI and HPC 
AMD is also providing the hardware and software portfolio needed to meet the rapidly growing demand for applications of AI within the HPC industry.

AMD Instinct accelerators and AMD EPYC processors are currently powering the top two systems, Frontier and LUMI, in the latest HPL-MxP mixed-precision benchmark, which highlights the convergence of HPC and AI workloads. Overall, AMD-based systems were the clear winners at the top of the list – with Frontier achieving an HPL-MxP score of 9.95 exaflops and the LUMI system reaching 2.35 exaflops – highlighting continued growth and capabilities of AMD EPYC CPUs and AMD Instinct accelerators in AI workloads.

In software, AMD continues to push an open software ecosystem with the AI and HPC communities, working together to support new applications, frameworks, languages and more through open software. The AMD ROCm™ open software platform continues to advance and be utilized across multiple large scale HPC and AI systems. The ROCm software stack also has “day zero” support for PyTorch 2.0 providing developers with an extensive array of AI models powered by PyTorch that are compatible and ready to use “out of the box” on AMD accelerators.

AMD Instinct MI300A Solution Partners 
HPE recently announced the HPE Cray Supercomputing EX255a accelerator blade, featuring the AMD Instinct MI300A APU. Ideal for AI and HPC workloads, the MI300A APU will be the world’s first APU accelerator for AI and HPC. See the AMD-powered HPE Cray Supercomputing EX255a at HPE’s booth #913.

Additionally, GENCI, the French HPC and AI agency, will engage its first extension of the Adastra supercomputer based on AMD Instinct MI300A accelerators. This future AMD-based partition will offer French researchers support in the convergence of HPC and AI applications.

Finally, Eviden has recently developed an AMD Instinct MI300A-powered blade for the BullSequana XH3000 full DLC SuperComputer line and will be delivering the first AMD Instinct MI300A-based SuperComputer in H1-24 at Max Planck Data Facility (MPCDF) in Germany. Visit the Eviden Booth #655 showcasing the BullSequana XH3000 and AMD Technologies.

Visit the AMD booth #1117 at Supercomputing 2023 to learn more about AMD solutions for HPC and speak with AMD experts.

Supporting Resources

Learn more about AMD EPYC ProcessorsLearn more about AMD Instinct AcceleratorsFollow AMD on TwitterConnect with AMD on LinkedIn

About AMD 
For more than 50 years AMD has driven innovation in high-performance computing, graphics and visualization technologies. Billions of people, leading Fortune 500 businesses and cutting-edge scientific research institutions around the world rely on AMD technology daily to improve how they live, work and play. AMD employees are focused on building leadership high-performance and adaptive products that push the boundaries of what is possible. For more information about how AMD is enabling today and inspiring tomorrow, visit the AMD (NASDAQ: AMD) website, blog, LinkedIn and Twitter pages.

AMD, the AMD Arrow logo, EPYC, AMD Instinct, ROCm and combinations thereof are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Other names are for informational purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

i 2 Includes AMD high-performance CPU and GPU accelerators used for AI training and high-performance computing in a 4-Accelerator, CPU-hosted configuration. Goal calculations are based on performance scores as measured by standard performance metrics (HPC: Linpack DGEMM kernel FLOPS with 4k matrix size. AI training: lower precision training-focused floating-point math GEMM kernels such as FP16 or BF16 FLOPS operating on 4k matrices) divided by the rated power consumption of a representative accelerated compute node, including the CPU host + memory and 4 GPU accelerators.

ii EPYC-030a: Calculation includes 1) base case kWhr use projections in 2025 conducted with Koomey Analytics based on available research and data that includes segment specific projected 2025 deployment volumes and data center power utilization effectiveness (PUE) including GPU HPC and machine learning (ML) installations, and 2) AMD CPU and GPU node power consumptions incorporating segment-specific utilization (active vs. idle) percentages and multiplied by PUE to determine actual total energy use for calculation of the performance per Watt. 13.5x is calculated using the following formula: (base case HPC node kWhr use projection in 2025 * AMD 2023 perf/Watt improvement using DGEMM and TEC +Base case ML node kWhr use projection in 2025 *AMD 2023 perf/Watt improvement using ML math and TEC) /(2020 perf/Watt * Base case projected kWhr usage in 2025). For more information: www.amd.com/en/corporate-responsibility/data-center-sustainability.

Contact: Aaron Grabein AMD Communications (512) 602-8950 Aaron.grabein@amd.com

Suresh Bhaskaran AMD Investor Relations (408) 749-2845 Suresh.Bhaskaran@amd.com

Source: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.

NJOMBE, TANZANIA, November 15, 2023, /3BL/ – Today, The Starbucks Foundation and Global Water Challenge (GWC) inaugurated the second phase of the WASH & Women Empowerment (WAWE) project in Tanzania, East Africa, marking the expansion of activities of their collaboration which started in 2021.

Supported by local implementing partners Amref Health Africa and Tanzania Association of Environmental Engineers (TAEEs), the WASH & Women Empowerment project aims to improve the lives of 25,000 community members by the close of 2024. This phase of the initiative will see efforts extend in the coffee- and tea- growing communities across the districts of Mufindi and Njombe in the Iringa regions of Tanzania.

Key project stakeholders, community leadership, and local authority representatives, including the Njombe Region Commissioner His Excellency Anthony Mtaka, were in attendance in recognition of the initiative that aims to improve the lives of community members in the region. Event activities were followed by stakeholder field visits to communities in Mufindi and Njombe, and an inauguration of works in an Nyigo primary school. The interventions across seven schools in the region will also provide close to 1,000 girls with access to menstrual hygiene rooms and give 3,500 pupils access to handwashing and sanitation services.

Working across the Southern Highlands of Tanzania, the project will improve the health and economic status of communities, with a focus on women and girls in the coffee- and tea- growing regions.

“Our impactful partnership with The Starbucks Foundation and our phenomenal community implementing partners is helping uplift women, girls, and their communities in Mufindi and Njombe through clean water access and economic development,” said Monica Ellis, CEO of Global Water Challenge.

As women and girls are often most disproportionally impacted by environmental and social challenges, the project includes a targeted focus on women’s empowerment. Through the establishment of entrepreneurship groups, promotion of women’s leadership and training on entrepreneurship and financial literacy skills, the project will catalyze income-generating activities for 14,000 women and girls. Furthermore, an additional 11,400 people will benefit from improved access to WASH services.

These objectives are aligned with the Tanzanian government’s agenda of achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, with a prioritization of Goal 6 focused upon universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene and Goal 8 to support decent work and economic growth in Tanzania.

“This project has come at the right time. The communities lack access to safe drinking water and pupils at schools have poor hygiene and are not trained on hand washing. We also have a number of entrepreneurship groups that need training on financial management. This project liberates our communities from these challenges and promotes self-sustaining skills and empowerment,” said Eliza Brown, Njombe Town Council’s Community Development Officer.

The WASH & Women Empowerment project in Tanzania contributes to The Starbucks Foundation’s continuing goal to positively impact 1 million women and girls in coffee-, tea- and cocoa-growing communities by 2030.

“To create a sustainable future of coffee, we must care for the well-being of the farmers and communities that grow coffee, tea, and cocoa around the world,” said Michelle Burns, Starbucks Executive Vice President of Global Coffee Tea and Cocoa and Board Member of The Starbucks Foundation. “While we continue to provide holistic support to all farmers, helping to improve their lives and livelihoods, we know that when we invest in women, we are also investing in her community.”

Amref Health Africa and TAEEs are instrumental in ensuring that project activities are implemented in collaboration with the local communities.

“The support we are getting from The Starbucks Foundation and Global Water Challenge gives us an opportunity to fulfil our long-term strategic goals. Amref Health Africa appreciates the contribution of The Starbucks Foundation and its partners in bringing this change to the lives of the people with whom we are serving and living,” said Dr. Aisa Muya, Director of Programmes for Amref Health Africa in Tanzania.

Deus Masige, Director of the Tanzania Association of Environmental Engineers, said, “With the support of The Starbucks Foundation and Global Water Challenge through the WAWE project, we look forward to making a difference to the health, livelihoods and dignity of thousands of Mufindi and Njombe people. This project will enable communities and particularly women and girls from the coffee- and tea- growing villages and schools to have assured access to improved water and sanitation services.”

###

About Global Water Challenge (GWC) 

Global Water Challenge (GWC) is a coalition of leading organizations deploying expertise and networks to advance global water security and achieve universal access to safe and affordable drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in communities around the world. Since 2006, GWC has positively impacted over 3 million across Africa, the Americas and Asia with clean water access and its campaigns, tools, data and best practices reach millions more. In collaboration with multi-sector partners, GWC engages for action – catalyzing financial resources and driving innovative programming for sustainable, local solutions. For more information, please visit globalwaterchallenge.org.

About The Starbucks Foundation 

The Starbucks Foundation supports thriving communities through grants to nonprofit organizations, from coffee-and tea-growing communities around the world to its hometown in Seattle and neighborhoods across the country. It strives to create a positive impact for people – from the first ten feet to the last ten feet of coffee – by supporting nonprofit organizations in partnership with Starbucks partners, licensee partners and others with a shared commitment and belief in stronger, more equitable communities.

The Starbucks Foundation Origin Grants make a difference in the lives of women, their families, and their communities through programs that promote women’s leadership, create economic opportunities, and expand access to clean water and sanitation (WASH) for women and girls across Africa, Asia and Latin America.

About Amref Health Africa 

For over 60 years, Amref Health Africa has been working with communities to attain lasting health change in Africa. This vision has guided Amref since its establishment as a fully flagged Tanzania Country office in 1987. With the new strategy (2023-2030), Amref Health Africa Tanzania’s mission is to catalyze and drive community-led and peoples-cantered essential health services while addressing social determinants of health. Amref Tanzania pledges to achieve its strategic objectives and delivers on set priorities for lasting health change in Tanzania without leaving anyone behind. More information about Amref Health Africa is available here.

About Tanzania Association of Environmental Engineers (TAEEs)

Tanzania Association of Environmental Engineers (TAEEs) is a professional non-governmental organization that thrives to address poverty reduction and improve the quality of life for marginalized communities in Tanzania by providing water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services, environmental management, sustainable livelihoods, and health support through knowledge management and capacity building.

TAEEs envisions a Tanzania where everyone has access to sustainable WASH services and a healthy environment. It focuses on WASH, climate smart environment and energy, and sustainable livelihood and health thematic areas aligned to SDGs. More information about TAEEs is available here.

Press Information

Global Water Challenge: Madeline Flamik – madeline.flamik@globalwaterchallenge.org

Amref Health Africa: Elizabeth Ntonjira – elizabeth.ntonjira@amref.org

TAEEs: Doreen Koko – doreen.koko@taaes.org

November 15, 2023 /3BL/ – The Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund) announced today $1 million in funding from the Wells Fargo Foundation to expand the Bank On Fellowship program to a fourth cohort and work to expand banking access for unbanked residents living in Arizona, California, Ohio, Kentucky, Louisiana, and New Mexico. The Wells Fargo Foundation’s investment will support six full-time Bank On Fellows for two years to help connect the more than 24 million people living outside of the U.S. financial system with safe, low-cost banking accounts.

The goal of the national Bank On program is to ensure that everyone has access to safe and affordable financial products and services. The Bank On National Account Standards define characteristics of a safe, affordable, and fully functional consumer account; accounts certified as meeting Bank On Standards are available at over 400 banks and credit unions across the country in over 46,000 branches, comprising 60% of the U.S. deposit market share. For example, Wells Fargo’s Bank On-certified Clear Access Banking is a low-cost, no overdraft fee account and gives access to Wells Fargo’s mobile app, and nationwide branch and ATM network.

This fourth cohort of Bank On Fellows includes: Bank On Arizona; Bank On Cleveland; Bank On Inland SoCal; Kentucky Bank On Network; Bank On New Mexico; and Bank On Northeast Louisiana. They will join a community of 100 local Bank On coalitions across the country, led by or working closely with local government to expand access to financial products through payment and program opportunities including unemployment insurance, workforce development programs, and more. This cohort includes three statewide coalition leaders who will work to expand banking access across their entire states.

“Banking access is foundational to financial stability,” said Jonathan Mintz, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund. “A safe, affordable, mainstream account is critical to helping people manage their money and improve their financial health. Bank On coalitions across the country connect people to safe accounts at scale, and a dedicated coalition leader will only supercharge this work. We’re thankful to the Wells Fargo Foundation for their ongoing investment in this work, and excited to partner with these coalition leaders for the next cohort of Bank On Fellows.”

“We’re excited to support the continuation of our partnership with CFE Fund and welcome our fourth cohort of Bank On Fellows to lead banking inclusion efforts in markets with high concentrations of unbanked households,” said Bonnie Wallace, head of Financial Health Philanthropy at Wells Fargo.

Launched with support from the Wells Fargo Foundation in 2017, the Bank On Fellowship program is the first national initiative of its kind focused on building a multi-city network of Bank On coalition leaders, equipping them with the training, tools, and resources to accelerate banking access while also generating best practices for other coalitions around the country.Dedicated local leadership is critical to moving beyond general education and literacy efforts and instead into identifying systemic integration points to connect unbanked people to safe, affordable accounts at scale.

The Wells Fargo Foundation’s investment in the Bank On initiative also enables the CFE Fund to provide local coalitions with funding and technical assistance to boost their local efforts in expanding access to safe and affordable banking accounts that are certified as meeting the Bank On National Account Standards. The Standards identify critical product features for appropriate bank or credit union accounts, making it easier for local coalitions across the country to connect consumers to accounts that meet their needs. Core account features include low costs, no overdraft fees, robust transaction capabilities such as a debit or prepaid card, and online bill pay.

About the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund)

The CFE Fund supports municipal efforts to improve the financial stability of households by leveraging opportunities unique to local government. By translating cutting-edge experience with large scale programs, research, and policy in cities of all sizes, the CFE Fund assists mayors and other local leaders to identify, develop, fund, implement, and research pilots and programs that help families build assets and make the most of their financial resources. The CFE Fund is currently working in over 100 cities and counties representing 75 million people, and has disbursed over $64 million to city governments and their partners to support these efforts. For more information, please visit www.cfefund.org or follow us on Twitter at @CFEFund.

For the second consecutive year, Pizza Hut China has teamed up with the Beijing Aita Animal Protection Foundation, known in Chinese as “Tajijin.” This collaboration is a testament to Pizza Hut’s innovative approach to diversify its operations and its dedication to fulfilling its social welfare responsibilities.

Building on last year’s success, Pizza Hut is expanding its pet-friendly restaurant network to 20 locations in 17 cities across China, providing unique dining experiences for customers and their pets. These restaurants are thoughtfully designed with pet-friendly amenities, including leash hooks and dedicated seating areas, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere for all guests.

This year, these pet-friendly Pizza Hut restaurants are undergoing further enhancements. Each pet-friendly restaurant will feature informative posters about Tajijin’s adoption and donation platforms, raising awareness and fostering a culture of care among customers.

Moreover, these pet-friendly restaurants will continue to serve as vibrant hubs for pet owners, hosting various activities that promote stray animal caring and adoption. These include offline pet adoption drives and virtual adoption campaigns, promoting the message of ‘Adopt, Don’t Shop.’

In some regions, Pizza Hut is introducing tailored initiatives to deepen community engagement. For instance, in Henan province, Pizza Hut has created a “Love and Care” brochure, covering essential topics on pet adoption and care. This brochure will be gifted to customers dining at Pizza Hut’s pet-friendly restaurants, providing valuable information and promoting responsible pet ownership.

In Chengdu, Pizza Hut’s pet-friendly restaurant offers an educational experience, featuring stories from pet adopters and advice from experienced pet doctors. This initiative is complemented by an “Adoption Showcase Zone,” which facilitates on-site adoptions and provides real-time information on pets available for adoption.

In Tianjin, the “Must Love Pets” charity market, a collaboration with local stray animal welfare organizations, exemplifies Pizza Hut’s innovative approach to community involvement. This event features a pet sports day and a marketplace where proceeds from sold pet items benefit animal welfare organizations.

Pizza Hut’s dedication to animal protection extends beyond these initiatives. The brand also actively contributes to shelters, operates a support platform, and organizes themed charity events with the aim of making a positive impact on the lives of stray animals.

Take Action and Get Tickets at moveafrika.org

‘Move Afrika’ to Galvanize a Citizen-Led Advocacy Campaign to Promote Health and Equity, Defend our Planet, and Create Economic Opportunity

In Partnership with the Rwanda Development Board, ‘Move Afrika: Rwanda’ to Take Place Every Year for the Next Five Years in Kigali 

WHAT: Comedian and media personality Arthur Nkusi, musician Ariel Wayz, actor and media personality Azziad Nasenya, DJ TOXXYK, media personality Jackie Lumbasi, and award winning choreographer Sherrie Silver join the inaugural lineup for Move Afrika: Rwanda, taking place on Wednesday December 6, 2023 at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda. They will join Grammy Award, Pulitzer Prize winning artist and co-founder of pgLang, Kendrick Lamar who will headline the event. Additional artists to be announced.

Move Afrika: A Global Citizen Experience is a ticketed event, hosted by international advocacy organization Global Citizen and creative imprint, pgLang. The event forms part of a new long-term, large-scale effort to pioneer a first-of-its-kind international music touring circuit throughout the continent of Africa, with pgLang serving as the curator of Move Afrika for the next five years, from 2023 until 2028.

The event will feature a citizen-led advocacy campaign calling for urgent action and bold commitments from world leaders on major issues across the continent. Key issues include: the need for increased funding for health, with a specific emphasis on women and girls; addressing the climate crisis and its impact on food security; tackling the lack of access to economic opportunities for future generations; and encouraging civic participation. 

WHEN: Wednesday December 6, 2023

WHERE: The BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda.

HOW TO GET TICKETS: Tickets are available at moveafrika.org, and can be earned by joining the movement and taking action on the Global Citizen app, at www.globalcitizen.org or text +250 790 008 555 on WhatsApp.

More information can be found at moveafrika.org.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS: Move Afrika is Global Citizen’s latest effort to address the world’s inequities by creating job and entrepreneurship opportunities for the continent’s emerging generations through an annual series of world-class live events. Showcasing the best of Africa to the world, these events will drive transformative investments within local communities, engage local artists, vendors, agencies and crews, and provide opportunities for on-the-job skill development and training. Producing a world-class experience for fans and artists alike, Move Afrika will set a new gold-standard for entertainment touring events, increasing demand from international and regional artists to tour in the region and building local capacity within host cities across the continent.

Move Afrika builds on Global Citizen’s previous campaigns and events across the continent that include: Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100, which brought Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Ed Sheeran, Usher, Eddie Vedder and Chris Martin of Coldplay to Johannesburg, South Africa in 2018; Global Citizen Live: Lagos that featured Davido, Femi Kuti, and Tiwa Savage at Fela Kuti’s New Afrika Shrine in 2021; and Global Citizen Festival: Accra, which brought Usher, SZA, Stormzy, and TEMS to the iconic Black Star Square in 2022.

Partners of Move Afrika include pgLang, the Rwanda Development Board and TimesLive.

For more information visit moveafrika.org, or via text on WhatsApp at +250 790 008 555. Follow Global Citizen on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

– Ends –

About Global Citizen: 
Global Citizen is the world’s leading international advocacy organization on a mission to end extreme poverty NOW. Our platform combines pop and policy to create action-focused campaigns, live events and broadcasts, thought leadership summits, original content, consumer products, employee engagement programs and more to address the most urgent issues facing humanity and our planet. To date, $43.6 billion in commitments announced on Global Citizen platforms has been deployed, impacting more than 1.3 billion lives. Established in Australia in 2008, Global Citizen’s team operates from New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Berlin, Geneva, Melbourne, Toronto, Johannesburg, Lagos and beyond. Join the movement at globalcitizen.org, download the Global Citizen app, and follow Global Citizen on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, X and LinkedIn.

About the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) 
The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) is a Government agency in Rwanda with a vision to transform Rwanda into a dynamic global hub for business, investment, and innovation. Its mission is to fast-track economic development in Rwanda by enabling private sector growth. Learn more at www.rdb.rw.

Press Kit: Click here for artwork

Media Credentials 
Applications are now open for media outlets to attend and cover Move Afrika: Rwanda on December 6. Please complete this application form.

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November 15, 2023 /3BL/ – The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation (BLHF) and kate spade new york proudly announce the expansion of their joint program, the “She Care Wellness Pods”, which aims to reach over 25,000 Black women on HBCU campuses with frontline mental wellness care. After a successful inaugural launch at Alabama State University in April of this year, BLHF and kate spade are expanding the initiative to a second HBCU campus location, Hampton University in Virginia.

Part of the Tapestry house of brands, kate spade new york believes that good mental health is foundational to women and girls’ empowerment. KSNY has committed to supporting 100,000 women and girls by 2025.

Through this groundbreaking program for HBCU students, BLHF and kate spade new york, in partnership with trusted Hampton University community resources, bring access to mental health facilities and resources directly to Black women on campus. The multifaceted program features the opening of “She Care Wellness Pods” – physical structures installed on campuses that offer a range of services, including:

Free mental health therapy sessions for female students experiencing an exacerbation of stress, anxiety and hopelessness.Hangout spaces that allow students to connect with peers or avoid isolation and grief during the school year and vacation periods.Unique programming including yoga, meditation, art and drama therapy, African dance, nutrition and more, all provided by certified practitioners.Workshops that offer resources and tools for those who suffer with anxiety, sleep deprivation and insomnia.Quiet spaces for silence, rest and respite to reset from daily stressors.

Founded in 2018, The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation’s mission is to eradicate the stigma around mental health in the Black community. As a leading Black mental health advocacy group, BLHF provides competent therapy and integrated wellness resources. For kate spade new york, women’s empowerment has been at the forefront of the brand’s purpose for over a decade and remains a core pillar of the brand. This year, kate spade and the kate spade new york Foundation will invest $5 million in programming to further destigmatize the mental health conversation and continue to provide services to women and girls in need. By continuing to expand the “She Care Wellness Pods” initiative, the joint partnership aims to provide 25,000 Black women on HBCU college campuses with frontline mental healthcare.

“When we first had the idea to create the Boris L. Henson Foundation Self-Care Wellness Pods, I knew we had to start with women, and specifically women on HBCU campuses. I can remember through my own experiences with stress and anxiety, not having the adequate support to deal with my issues or the education to name what I was experiencing,” said BLHF Founder, Taraji P. Henson. “Our shared vision and partnership with kate spade new york has been vital in promoting conversations and offering support to students to take care of their mental health, starting with our successful launch of She Care Wellness pods at Alabama State University. We are proud to open our second installment at Hampton University this fall,” Henson stated.

“At kate spade new york, we believe that mental health is foundational to women’s empowerment, and recognize that it has long been under-acknowledged, underfunded, and stigmatized. We are committed to increasing accessibility of mental health resources to women and girls around the globe through our social impact work and trusted partners in this space,” said kate spade new york CEO and Brand President, Liz Fraser. “We are proud to expand our partnership with Taraji, Tracie and The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation. By offering space and resources dedicated to mental health, together we can create a positive difference for young women on HBCU campuses and in their communities.”

As a member of kate spade new york’s Social Impact Council, which was established in January 2022, Taraji P. Henson, has continued her work with the global lifestyle brand to increase mental health resources. Alongside other social impact members, including Sofia Wylie and Jazz Thorton and Latham Thomas and more, the cohort brings unique expertise and work hand-in-hand with kate spade to propel positive change, and encourage more conversation, education and research around the cause.

Originally published on November 2nd, 2023 on LinkedIn

We are excited to launch Sysco’s first ever Global Purpose Month in November to mobilize colleagues around the world in connecting the world to share food and care for one another. Together, we’ll make a positive impact on the communities we serve and advance our Global Good Goal to contribute $500 million of good in our communities by 2025.

For more information, check out https://sysco.com/Sustainability/People.html

About Sysco

Sysco is the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments and other customers who prepare meals away from home. Its family of products also includes equipment and supplies for the foodservice and hospitality industries. With more than 72,000 colleagues, the company operates 334 distribution facilities worldwide and serves approximately 725,000 customer locations. For fiscal year 2023 that ended July 1, 2023, the company generated sales of more than $76 billion. Information about our Sustainability program, including Sysco’s 2022 Sustainability Report and 2022 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Report, can be found at www.sysco.com.

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